Survey Data
Reg No
40911002
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Technical
Original Use
Bridge
In Use As
Bridge
Date
1760 - 1800
Coordinates
188428, 357407
Date Recorded
02/10/2007
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Triple-arched bridge carrying road over the Bradoge River, built c. 1780, having rendered V-profile cutwater to the east elevation. Slightly hump-backed. Round-headed arches having cut stone voussoirs to arches and with modern rendered finish to arch barrels. Roughly squared rubble stone construction to spandrels, pier, and parapets with random rubble stone coping over. Sections of render to side elevations of bridge. Modern repairs in places, particularly to parapets, Tarmacadam deck with grass verges. Located in the rural countryside to the south of Ballyshannon. Spans border with County Leitrim to the south.
Appraisal
Despite some modern interventions and repairs, this simple rustic triple-arched road bridge retains much of its early character and form, and is an appealing feature in the rural landscape to the south-east of Bundoran. The three irregularly-spaced small arches creates a picturesque vernacular appearance, and suggests that this bridge may be quite early. It is robustly-constructed in rubble stone masonry, and its continued survival and use stands as testament to the quality of its original construction, and of the skill of the masons involved. The dressed stone voussoirs to the arches are noteworthy features. This bridge was probably constructed during late-eighteenth century, a period that saw a great deal of road and bridge-building in Ireland, particularly by the Grand Juries (the forerunners of the County Councils). This unassuming rustic bridge is an addition to both the built heritage of the local area and to the extensive transport heritage of County Donegal, adding interesting to its pleasant location spanning the borders of Donegal and Leitrim.